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Summary
Paid in Fulldramatizes the turbulent lives of literal 1980s Harlem drug dealers , including the veridical - life inspiration for the quality Rico . Directed by Charles Stone III , the movie involve rapper Jay - Z as a manufacturer along with a star - studded ensemble . Wood Harris plays the protagonist Ace , a law - brook man who accidentally starts a prosperous drug business only to face a moral quandary . Paid in Fullis slackly base on a true story , with Ace directly inspired by former drug lord Azie Faison Jr. Mekhi Phifer appears as Ace ’s best friend Mitch , inspired by crack dealer Rich Porter .
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Like other drug movies based on unfeigned narrative likeAmerican GangsterandWhite Boy Rick , pay in Fulltakes creative familiarity to explore the origins of its dependable story . One such interesting character is the pitiless hatchet man Rico ( Cam’ron ) . With the moving-picture show sport several knocker in its cast and its statute title borrowed from an Eric B. & Rakim track , pay off in Fullhas emerged as one of the mostcriminally underrated gangster pic . Despite flopping at the box position , Paid in Full ’s relevancy can be understood from dialogue being reference in songs by 50 Cent , The Game , and others .
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Rico Is Based On Ex-Harlem Drug Dealer Alpo Martinez
Rapper - move around - actor Cam’ron star inPaid in Fullas Rico , an East Harlem native who meets Ace in gaol . When they are both released , Rico works for his new supporter and serves as an enforcer for Ace ’s drug conglomerate . However , when Rico ’s aggressive and intrusive affectedness play the reverence of unwanted public attention , Ace becomes concerned . afterwards , Rico arrive at the move from New York to Washington , D.C. to expand his operations . While the other characters ofPaid in Fulllike Ace and Mitch are also drawn from actual history , it is Rico ’s is close to the straight story .
Like Rico , ex - drug principal Alberto " Alpo " Martinez begin his business by selling drugs in East Harlem . concord toLatin Trends , Martinez was 13 when he first start selling drug — and then got arrested the first time . TheLatin Trendsprofile also suggests that after rising as a prominent drug top banana in Harlem , he expanded his trade by channel large quantity of crack cocain through new territories , the most prominent of which was Washington D.C. Rico even take over personality trait directly from Martinez , who was described as a “ magnetic and outgoing man ” who “ brought attention to himself ” ( viaVice ) .
In the latter half ofPaid in Full , Mitch ’s unseasoned brother is kidnapped , instigate him and Rico to collect enough cocaine to pay as ransom . This gives manner to a peculiarly disgraceful twist when Rico betrays Mitch and seizes the cocaine for his own byplay . Mitch ’s genuine - life vis-a-vis , Rich Porter , was really killed by Martinez when his brother was nobble . Two years afterwards , Martinez admitted to pour down his friend and partner , a confession cover byThe New York Times .
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Rico Became An Informant In Paid In Full
Paid in Fullbriefly turn into a picture show about undercover agents when a disappointed Ace gives up Rico to two surreptitious FBI agent in the terminal . When the agents get detainment of Rico , the disgraced drug bigwig reveals information about his connections in Washington , D.C. to avoid life sentence internment . The authority finally settle for a 25 - year judgment of conviction for Rico . This ending again goes in line with Alpo Martinez ’s fate , as he likewise became a police witness .
According toDon Diva , Martinez was rouse with various drug - related crimes as well as 14 counting of murder , including Porter ’s . These charges led to the hypothesis of life imprisonment or the end penalty . Martinez give up information on his business organization partners , let in his enforcer Wayne Perry .
By the timePaid in Fullwas release , Martinez was already service his 35 - year - long sentence — compared to Rico ’s 25 years . But asVann Digitalreports , Martinez was let go from federal prison house ADX Florence in 2015 and was awaiting a raw identicalness under a viewer auspices program . accord to theSun Journal , Martinez led a new life in Lewiston , Maine , under his new name , Abraham Rodriguez . However , his new lifespan was cut short when he was shoot idle in 2021.The New York Timesreported that Martinez ’s demise was the solvent of a route rage incident .
Sources : Latin Trends , Vice , The New York Times , Don Diva , Vann Digital , andSun Journal .
